Page 49 - Total War on PTSD Final

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the prevalence rate of PTSD among adults is approximately 3.5%, with women having a higher occurrence rate than men. PTSD can be diagnosed anytime throughout the lifespan, however, 6-years- old is the minimum age requirement for an individual to be diagnosed with this disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD:
PTSD can be diagnosed in individuals who either witness or are directly threatened with death or serious injury either to themselves or another person. The child who witnesses their mother being physically beat by their father is just as likely to develop PTSD as the combat Veteran who is attacked in an ambush or a mortar attack. Not everyone who is exposed to a trauma will develop PTSD, however, combat Veterans are more susceptible to this disorder due to their often repetitive and prolonged exposure to trauma in war zones, which can include mortar attacks, suicide bombers, snipers, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), vehicle borne IEDs (VBIEDS), ambushes, etc. Besides being in potential danger 24/7, combat Veterans often bear witness to fellow service members and local nationals being severely or mortally injured. The level of fear, horror, and helplessness that can occur with both these direct and indirect threats can be equally impactful.
PTSD is considered an anxiety disorder and there are very specific criteria that need to be met for an individual to be diagnosed with this disorder. First, we will go over the formal criteria according to the DSM-5 and afterward look at the symptoms may manifest in the combat Veteran’s actual life upon returning home. According to the DSM-5, there are eight clusters of symptoms that must be present for an individual to be diagnosed with PTSD. For the purpose of this book, we will primarily focus on PTSD in adults. The criteria is as follows:
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